Dona Reed grew up in a small farming community in Minnesota and received a BA in Art Education from Luther College. After teaching art in Australia and the Midwest for 5 years, she moved to Washington State in 1980. For many years she worked in real estate, but she returned to art in 1992 when she was smitten with the "gourd craze." She now lives on San Juan Island where she collects design ideas from SCUBA diving, bird and animal watching and gardening.

"Gourds are a very ancient and mysterious vegetable. The natural shape and texture of the gourd will dictate the design, and each vessel will disclose its’ own identity as I am working on it. It is a very tactile medium for both artist and viewer; nearly impossible to refrain from touch. For me, working with gourds is a combination of many mediums: pottery, woodworking, illustration, weaving, basketry and painting. With my bird, fish and animal motifs, I am trying to capture my interpretation of nature in an artwork that everyone can enjoy. Perhaps the love and energy invested in each gourd will also benefit the creature it portrays and help us better appreciate the art of nature."

All vessels and lamps designs can be created from 10" - 15" in size. Rim weaving and detail cutout require an additional fee. Each gourd or lamp is made to order. Please contact us directly at 360-378-6550 or info@islandstudios.com for order, pricing and delivery information.

Price List